Amritsar: One sent to judicial custody for spreading communal hatred on social media

Amritsar, July 15

The police have arrested a Nihang identified as Malkeet Singh, alias Panjab Singh, of Sultanwind now residing at Mehma Pandori village for allegedly spewing venom and hatred against other communities on the social media thereby creating law and order problem.

Police Commissioner (CP) Ranjit Singh Dhillon said the suspect was arrested and sent to judicial custody. He said using social media, Malkeet used to threaten those selling liquor, non-vegetarian food and tobacco products. He was threatening them to move out of the walled city and shut down their businesses.

He was booked by the police under Sections 196 (1) (rioting), 351 (2) (Criminal Intimidation), 351 (3) (punishment for Criminal Intimidation), 352 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 353 (1) (C) (making, publishing or circulating any statement, false information and rumour or report, through electronic means with an intent to incite any class or community to commit any offence against any other class or community) and 352 (2) (making, publishing or circulating any statement or report containing false information, rumour or alarming news, with an intent to create or promote, feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities) of the BNS.

Recently, the city witnessed a spate of such incidents in which shopkeepers selling tobacco products were targeted by unknown Nihangs. This led to a serious law and order problem, besides bringing bad repute to the holy city.

Earlier, Malkeet was booked under similar offences by the Division A police station.